Josh and I decided that we would take some of our tax return and get a new dishwasher, our old one had LOTS of issues and they kept getting worse. So over the weekend Josh decided to install our new one. I was so excited, he actually had to build a wall on one side of the dishwasher to close it in and finish off the cabinet. I never understood why it was completely open on that side but now the cabinet has an end wall and the new dishwasher is completely closed in.
So while Josh was installing the dishwasher Sarah really wanted to play with all of his tools. I had to tell her several times to put them down and not play with them (especially since she was scratching the finish off of the cabinets under the sink). So finally after I told her to leave daddy’s tools alone she looked at me and said, “I have tools” and ran out of the kitchen . She came back a minute later with her tool box filled with plastic kid tools. So she sat there next to dad and played with her tools while Josh finished installing the dishwasher. It was just so CUTE!! I just love this little girl so much, she brings so much joy into my life!! 
Oh yes, and if you were wondering the new dishwasher is heavenly!!! I love that I can put dirty (very dirty) dishes in and they actually come out clean!! I thought a dishwasher that actually washed dishes was just a fairytale!
Rachel had her first slumber party and boy was I nervous, isn’t 6 too young? I know that I went to slumber parties at that age but this is my little girl we are talking about. I was worried about everything. One of her friends from school and soccer had a sleepover for her birthday party and Rachel was excited from the moment she got the invitation. I know the mom fairly well and trusted her to keep a constant eye on them and to actually make sure they went to bed. She sent her other kids away to grandma’s house so the only kids in the house were the party guests and she slept down stairs with the girls.
Rachel just had a blast and did very well. She had a hard time falling asleep but other than that did great. They played games, painted fingernails and even did sleeping bag races down the stairs. I was a little worried that she might be a monster the next day but she willingly took a nap that afternoon and was pleasant the entire weekend. I guess I don’t have a good excuse to not let her do sleep overs, well except for the fact that they make ME nervous. I guess moms have to let go sometimes, but I hope she doesn’t have another one any time soon. I wish I had some pictures but since I wasn’t there I don’t, oh well! I am glad Rachel had such a good time!
Rachel is just loving her new ‘no bangs’ hair style. She has always wanted to just wear headbands and barrettes and stuff like that but her hair has always been too long, it doesn’t stay back with that stuff. So we decided that it was time for a hair cut. Rachel has been begging me since before Christmas to get her hair cut short, well I was only willing to do one change at a time. We started with growing out the bangs and now that I am use to that we can cut it shorter. I was not ready to let her cut her hair as short as she wanted but we both really ended up liking the length we compromised on. So we took Rachel in and had 5 inches cut off, I know that sounds like a lot but her hair is still fairly long. I just LOVE this length on her. The lady who cut her hair pulled it back really cute which I have had to duplicate several times since then, and Rachel lets me know that the other lady does it a lot faster than me. I love that crazy little girl! 
Our Church tries to have family activities for the different holidays and one of the things they do is a family Valentine’s dance. This year they did a Hawaiian themed dance (not sure how they decided on Hawaiian but it was lots of fun). So the day of the dance I went to Party City and bought grass skirts for the girls and leis for the rest of the family. They both loved dressing up and had a great time!! Josh and I are not huge dress up people (I know party poopers, right) but I broke out my flip flops and wore a lei, it was too cold to go any more Hawaiian than that and Josh wore his lei all night too. The girls just looked adorable and had so much fun. I took several pictures at the dance and when I got home realized that I didn’t have any of Rachel dressed up. I felt really bad until I realized why, she ran to be with friends the second we walked into the door and stayed on the far side of the dance floor the entire night. So I might not have gotten a picture of her but she had an awesome time dancing and being with friends, (I know I am still a bad mom but don’t tell her that).
Well I do have pictures of Sarah and she also had a blast. She tried being independent and dancing by herself on the floor but there were WAY TOO MANY bigger kids running around the place and not paying attention to smaller children and she got knocked to the floor. So after that she wanted Mom or Dad by her side the rest of the night.
Hawaiian Sarah
Festive Josh, doesn't he look happy?
Doing the Hokey Pokey, put your left elbow in and shake it all about
